American Eagle Outfitters Inc.’s decision to close its Warrendale distribution center is part of a new strategy dictated by e-commerce.

The South Side-based clothing retailer told its employees it would be closing the 500,000-square-foot distribution center in 2015, replacing it with a 1-million-square-foot center in Hazleton, Luzerne County, in northeastern Pennsylvania.

“The growth rate of our e-commerce business requires that we invest behind sector-leading capabilities from our infrastructure and our systems to our distribution networks to be able to bring our brand to our customers in the way they expect today, and that requires upgrading our facilities,” said CEO Robert Hanson in a prepared statement. “Omni-channel growth is up double digits to date, and we are seeing that growth continue. The new distribution center is critical to supporting our future growth.”

Omni-channel retailing is a strategy being undertaken by companies to make in-store and Internet shopping a more seamless experience.

Lou Oliva, executive managing director of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s Pittsburgh office, was not expecting the Warrendale facility to close, but said American Eagle’s move is keeping with industry trends.

“That whole Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania is populated with 1-million-square-foot distribution centers,” he said. “The way a lot of major companies are doing their distribution models, northern Pennsylvania is a really popular spot.”

The location, of course, is close to major population centers on the East Coast and allows trucks to reach into New England in a day’s drive.

“Right now, an eight-hour drive from Pittsburgh can’t get you all the way up into New England,” Oliva said.

THE MOVE

What: American Eagle Outfitters Inc.’s new distribution facility
Where: Hazleton, Luzerne County
When: Planned to open in 2015
Who: The retailer said the facility will eventually provide more than 600 jobs. That’s said to be triple the head count in the closing Warrendale facility. Those employees will be offered jobs in Hazleton or other facilities.